The Casino Race Heats Up in Hell’s Kitchen with Appointments, Presentations — and Questions [from W42ST.nyc]

The battle for casino licenses stepped up a gear yesterday, as local elected officials named their representatives to powerful Community Advisory Committees — and the team behind The Avenir faced a two-and-a-half-hour public meeting in Hell’s Kitchen.

By Phil O'Brien - W42sT.nyc

Original Article: https://w42st.com/post/the-casino-race-heats-up-in-hells-kitchen-with-appointments-presentations-and-questions/

The New York State Gaming Commission revealed the full slate of Community Advisory Committee (CAC) appointees, who will now play a key role in determining whether the casino proposals move forward. To advance, each bid must secure a two-thirds majority from a six-person panel appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, Councilmember Erik Bottcher, Assemblymember Tony Simone, and either Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal (for The Avenir) or Senator Liz Krueger (for Caesars Times Square).

Among the most notable appointees is Richard Gottfried — the retired longtime West Side Assemblymember — named by both Hoylman-Sigal and Krueger. A respected veteran of Albany politics, Gottfried brings decades of institutional knowledge to the process. His appointment is particularly interesting, given the positions of his nominators: both Hoylman-Sigal and Krueger have spoken out against casinos in Manhattan, with Hoylman-Sigal stating during his Borough President campaign: “If you want a Manhattan casino, don’t vote for me.”

Councilmember Bottcher appointed two members of his staff to serve: Carl Wilson (for Caesars Times Square) and Quentin Heilbroner (for The Avenir). “While I will be making the final decisions, Carl and Quentin will play key roles in managing the high volume of meetings and community engagement this process will require,” Bottcher told W42ST. “I look forward to hearing from residents throughout.”

Assemblymember Tony Simone also chose a close aide — his Chief of Staff, Matthew Tighe — for both committees. “I will be represented on the CACs by Matt, who has served this district for over eight years and will work with his fellow appointees to manage an open and transparent process so that the community is fully heard,” said AM Simone in a statement to W42ST this morning.

“We are excited to present Caesars Palace Times Square to our Community Advisory Committee”, said Brett Herschenfeld, EVP with SL Green — responding to the appointments. “Our project design is the result of hundreds of meetings with community members, non-profits and local businesses to build a proposal that our community can be proud of.”

While the committee rosters were being finalized, The Avenir team was at the Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen Land Use (CHKLU) Committee of Manhattan Community Board 4, presenting their $7 billion proposal for a casino, hotel and entertainment complex at 11th Avenue between W40th and W41st Streets.

Led by Silverstein Properties’ Dara McQuillan, the team emphasized their local roots and private ownership — contrasting themselves with publicly traded rivals. “We’re not parachuting in,” said COO Dino Fusco. “We live and work here.” Only 12% of the proposed 1.7 million square feet would be devoted to gaming, they stressed — the rest would include a 1,000-room Hyatt hotel, restaurants from Danny Meyer and Stephen Starr, a food hall and a range of spaces for community use.

Architect Nancy Ruddy, co-founder of CetraRuddy, described the double-height 11th Avenue gallery as a flexible and inviting public amenity. “We’re proposing a 45-foot-high community art space that will span the entire length of 11th Avenue,” she said, noting it would feature rotating digital installations, educational events and lecture space. A mezzanine-level café, accessible via a prominent glass elevator, would allow visitors to view art from above and also connect directly to the sixth-floor food hall. “It’s designed to feel open and welcoming — a place where neighbors can gather for talks, children’s workshops or just enjoy the view,” Ruddy added.

But committee members and neighbors weren’t shy in raising concerns — particularly around traffic, public safety and infrastructure. CHKLU co-chair Paul Devlin asked about the long-stalled 10th Avenue 7 train stop. The Silverstein team pointed out that over the first decade, the MTA could receive $2.5 billion in tax revenue from the casino — far more than the $1.9 billion price tag last estimated for the station. 

When Brian Weber, who is a public member of the committee, cited “over 1,600 911 calls on W42nd Street so far this year,” the developers responded by pledging “hundreds” of private security staff, extensive surveillance and improved street lighting. Rush Street Gaming CEO Tim Drehkoff cited their casinos’ records in cities like Philadelphia, claiming a reduction in crime post-opening.

Amanda Brown, a nearby resident, warned that crossing the area near 11th Avenue already felt like “a game of Frogger.” In response, the architects promised widened sidewalks, bike parking and redesigned curb spaces to pull traffic off the street. 

Other promises included a 700-seat food hall featuring Hell’s Kitchen favorites like Don Antonio and Empanada Mama, and a partnership with Rethink Food to redirect unused ingredients into meals for the food insecure. They also pledged to fund 2,000 housing units west of 7th Avenue (and ideally in Hell’s Kitchen, depending on deals that could be reached) through office-to-residential conversions — at least 500 of which would be permanently affordable.

But, as Fusco admitted, “This project doesn’t work without the casino.” Without it, the team said, the site — a vacant lot for over a decade — would likely remain undeveloped. 

The presentation wrapped with a pointed reflection from CHKLU committee member Frank Holozubiec, who said he was “sort of disappointed that the presentation didn’t wrestle with what I think are some of the fundamental issues affecting day-to-day life in the community.Traffic, buses, construction…” He added: “ The art, the DEI — those are great, aspirational things, but in terms of what’s going to affect people living here during construction and while the thing is in operation, I just feel we heard very little concrete about that.”

Next up in the process — two public meetings hosted by each CAC, and a deadline of September 30 to vote on whether the West Side bids move forward. If a proposal secures a two-thirds majority, it heads to the State Gaming Facility Location Board for a final decision — expected by the end of the year.